Some days you're gonna put me on a pedestal up high

Miss me?

Sorry it took so long. You thought I was kidding when I said it was hard to get up off the couch! Anyways, here are my new Baudelaire socks. They are so pretty you could put them up on a pedestal. (Ok, so the title's a stretch, but read on and you'll understand. Maybe.)



Specs:
Pattern: Baudelaire from Knitty
Needles: US 2
Yarn: one skein of Cherry Tree Hill yarn in "Moody Blues," hence today's title (I had to search long and hard for it as I don't really listen to the Moody Blues)
Pattern Notes: This one was really fun to knit. The pattern is really well written and easy to follow. I taught myself how to knit on two circulars for this one, plus they are toe-up, which is also new for me. I love the construction of the heel, which is a rounded short row heel with a flap. I also had fun with the sewn bind-off, which I'll definately use again. My only complaint, which is not a pattern complaint, is that I have little or no talent in photographing my own feet. Must work on this one.

And just so you won't think that I really have spent all of the time since my last post just sitting on the couch, check out this next project:

I picked out these great coordinating dishcloths . . .



to be a new home for this mess of needles.



Voila! Here is my new needle case closed:



And here it is open:



Betcha didn't know I could sew! It was really easy, but next time I'll probably head to Joanne's Fabrics rather than use dishcloths. It was a little difficult to work with fabric of this thickness on the sewing machine.

And, what you've all been waiting for, the date update:
- Date number 1 never happened because the loser never called (cross that guy off the list).
- Date number 2 was great: good chemistry, easy to talk to, but I'm not sure I'm attracted to him. Still, he gets another chance.
- Date number 3 was wicked uncomfortable. I may not be the best conversationalist, but he had no ability to hold up his end. I'd ask him questions and he'd constantly answer with one or two words only. There were other weirdnesses that I can't even go into, but trust me, it was not good. Want to hear the strangest thing? The next day he sent me an e-mail saying that he had a lot of fun and I was really easy to talk to. Was he at the same date or what?
- Date number 4 was my favorite. I'm definately attracted to him and I find him really interesting. The only shortcoming is that we don't have THAT much in common, so it was a little hard to keep the conversation flowing. It got better as the evening went on, and I think he'll call.
- Boy number 5 seems to have fallen off the face of the earth, but it's ok because I'm feeling a little overwhelmed with men as it is. Plus, two new guys have begun e-mailing me on JDate. I'm feeling uber-popular these days. Kinda funny how I've been in a dry spell for what feels like forever, and suddenly it's all turned around.



Previous Title: Geri Halliwell, "It's Raining Men"

I feel stormy weather moving in . . . it's raining men

When it rains, it pours! Somehow I have found more eligible bachelors than you would find on an episode of the dating game. Needless to say, my weekend is pretty booked up. I don't want to say too much and jinx it, but I promise to tell all as the days go by. Most are JDaters and one is a friend of a friend. That's it - you get no more until after I have gone out with them. Not a peep so don't even try.

Now, for the promised vacation update. In no particular order, here are a few things I did this past week:

1. Heehee. Met boys.

2. I went antiquing with mom. I haven't really ever been into antiques, but I have this one really cool art deco glass piece that I got from my grandmother when she moved into a nursing home. This weekend I decided to start acquiring a few other pieces. I saw some really neat stuff, including a purple glass perfume bottle with a metal section on the bottom. Sorry, can't describe it better than that. It was really cool, but in the end, I decided on this collection of seltzer bottles.



Cute, no?

3. I visited the new twins in New York. Sorry, no pics. You'll have to take my word on it. Grace and Carter are the cutest itsy bitsy babies I ever did see. Mama Kelly looks good too, with cute new hair (Hi Kelly!).

4. I got a new hair cut too! I didn't take pictures of that either, but I really like it. I also had it straightened, so now it doesn't frizz quite so much on these hot hot days.

5. I went to a wedding shower for my almost sister-in-law. It was fun, but it was a marathon shower, clocking in at 5 hours. I think that might be a new record.

6. I went to a yarn store in Pennington, NJ. It was my first trip to The Wooly Lamb, but I will definately be back. They were really nice and friendly, and they had a huge selection. I think they have moved down the street and have not yet changed their website, so if you decide to go, you should call them first for the real address. They had a sample from the Debbie Bliss Pure Silk book and they even let me try it on! I was convinced.



Look what followed me home! This isn't a color I normally would choose, but it's the color of the store sample, and it looked great, so mine will be bright pink too. Now that I've been home for a little while, look what I have so far:



Want to guess what it's going to be?

7. I finished a pair of socks. I'm not going to show you them today, because I think they deserve their own song lyrics, don't you?

8. I got back to Boston and found this waiting for me in the mail:



Thank you Secret Pal! She made me a scarf, which I totally love. You can't tell from the picture, but it has a little ruffle detail at the ends. Love it! She also sent a tin of mango sour altoids (yum!) and a really nice note. By the way, Secret Pal, don't worry about the chocolate - I can't imagine it would travel well either.

9. I can't think of a number nine, so I guess that's it. Phew! What a week! Did I mention I met boys?



Yesterday's title: ACDC, "It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Want to Rock 'N Roll)"

Ridin' down the highway

I'm back in Boston, but tired from all of the driving. I've got lots to tell you about, but it'll have to wait until tomorrow. Hopefully a lot of pictures, too, but only if I can surgically unattach my butt from the couch for long enough to find the camera.



Previous title: Simon and Garfunkel, "America"

Counting the cars on the New Jersey Turnpike

It's never good when you are surrounded by brake lights and you see a fire truck go by. Despite some trauma on the NJ Turnpike, I managed to survive a five and a half hour drive to my parents' house today, relatively unscathed. I'll be away for about a week, probably not going to be posting much, but you never know. Have a good few days!



Previous title: Artist Unknown (really - I googled it), "I've Been Workin' on the Railroad"

Someone's in the kitchen I know

But there was no strummin' on the old banjo.

Lookee - I cooked!



Okay, so most people wouldn't call making a salad "cooking," but I haven't done more than dial for take out in quite some time. Well, that's not entirely true. I'm also really good at buying pre-made stuff at Whole Foods. If you want to make a delicious apple walnut salad for yourself, here's what I did:

- one package of pre-washed and chopped lettuce (romaine)
- one package of crushed walnuts
- one package of dried apple slices
- one package of goat cheese

Directions: Mix all in a large bowl. Add raspberry vinaigrette dressing. Enjoy!

I know, it takes a lot of effort. It took me a whopping five minutes to make. I thought about adding chicken, but why push it?

A few other recent updates:

The Moody Blues socks were coming close to an end, but I had a few minor setbacks. You'll have to hold your breath if you're waiting for those.

For Midnight Purls, a fellow Jersey Girl, although I'm really from PA originally: I grew up in Yardley, PA but I went to Chapin for middle school and Princeton Day School for high school.

Oh! "Without a Trace" is on tv right now and tonight's episode has Brain/Brian from "My So-Called Life," aka Pink Shirt Guy from "Felicity" (can you tell I'm really a little too good at Pop Culture Trivia?). Sorry, I have to go watch now.



Previous Title: The Go-Gos, "Vacation"

Vacation all I ever wanted

Shelby, my SP8 Hostess with the Most-est has asked for a response to a few questions, just for fun. They're kind of vacation-themed, hence the title.

1) What is your favorite season of the year?
I like Fall because Massachusetts is so pretty when the leaves change, and Spring because of the anticipation, but Summer's by far the best. I don't work during much of the summer so I get to relax and snooze and knit and do other fun stuff.

2) Where is your favorite vacation spot?
I think I'm going to go to Paris in April with my mom. Paris is one of my all-time favorite cities because of the culture - there's so much art, fashion, and just generally interesting stuff going on in Paris. I also like Italy for the same reasons.

3) If you could visit any place in the world, where would it be?
Paris and Italy, obviously, but I'd also like to go to Australia and Greece. I've never been to either one and I've heard rave reviews.

4) If you could pick any job, and be paid well, what would it be?
I'd like to own/run a knitting store. Is this even a question you need to ask?

5) If you were going on vacation for 1 week, and had to take ONLY one project with you, what would it be?
Yikes! Too many to choose from! Maybe a pair of socks with an interesting pattern. Or a scarf with an interesting pattern. Something that would hold my interest but not be too involved. I'd like to be able to pick it up for short periods of time and not lose my place in the pattern, but I'd also like something that won't bore me or feel like work.

6) If you won a shopping spree to your favorite Yarn shop, what would you get?
Sign me up! I'm thinking I'd go for a swift and yarn winder, oodles of sock yarn (Koigu and Lorna's Laces), and some ArtYarns of any variety. I've never made anything using their yarns, but each one is prettier than the next. As long as it's a shopping spree, I might as well go all out: it would also be fun to pick up a variety of colors of Cascade 220 for felting projects, and of course anything Noro.

I guess that's all. Excuse me while I go drool over the idea of a shopping spree to a yarn store . . .



Previous title: Guns 'n Roses, "November Rain"

Everybody needs some time on their own

Today was a day to be spent all by myself. In a good way, I mean. I relaxed, did a little housecleaning, laundry, and of course, started a new pair of socks. You knew it was coming soon, didn't you?



Check out the needles. Yup, this baby is my very first venture into the world of socks on circular needles. It's a nice place. I think I'll stay. I also taught myself how to go toe-up for these, which is a good thing. The yarn is Cherry Tree Hill in Moody Blues. I always end up a little short with this yarn, but it's yummy so I can't seem to resist it. I figure with toe-up socks, I can just stop when I get close to the end of the skein. The pattern is Baudelaire , from Knitty.

They are really going fast!

In other news, I did some felting today. I figured as long as I was doing laundry, I might as well throw in some projects. May I present the Cleo Clutch and a Booga Bag.





ThatÂ’s about all the news for now, given that I only left the house today when absolutely necessary.

Oh yeah, I added some stuff in the sidebar - take a look. I updated my FOs list and added an Amazon wish list.



Yesterday's title: Maroon 5, "She Will Be Loved"

It’s not always rainbows and butterflies; it’s compromise that moves us along

. . . but today it's rainbows and butterflies. I spent the day at the pool. A little humid, but all in all a deliciously sunny afternoon with a bit of a breeze.

Then I came home and got ready to go run some errands. Important stuff, you know, like Starbucks and Trader Joes. Can't possibly be skipped. I put on my summer uniform of jeans and a black tank top, then added a Sox hat 'cause I didn't really want to wash my hair. I looked in the mirror before I left, and was fully satisfied. I'm not sure if it's a thing that comes with age, or if it's the tan or the fact that I've been working hard at the gym, but lately I've been increasingly happier with what I see in the mirror. I think as a kid I always thought 29 was so old and for sure I'd be over the hill by then (hee hee, you know how anything above eighteen seems REALLY old when you're little?). Well, I think I'm growing into myself maybe. Or something. Now my cheeks are blushing. Moving right along.

I've got a few finished knitting things to show you, mostly bags that might hold socks. Wonder why, hmmm? They both need felting though, so I'll hold off on showing you some pictures. I also finally finished one Tropicana sock and am getting going on the second one. I'm fighting hard to avoid Second Sock Syndrome, but I'm so tired of these socks already.

Last night I took a break from socks to make some stitch markers. Cute, no?



When they're finished, they'll be shipped off to secret pals. Of course, I'll have to make a new set for myself too. I ran out of supplies halfway through the second set, and I haven't added the rings to the tops yet. Looks like another trip to the craft store. That's ok though, because I'm also thinking about making this, and I'll need to pick up a few things. I need another bag like I need a hole in the head, but I can't help myself. Chances are it'll take a while for me to get going on it anyway. Unless of course it rains tomorrow and I can't go to the pool.



Previous title: Dave Matthews Band, "So Much to Say" (for all in-between titles too)

So much to say, so much to say, so much to say, so much to say

A post with multiple titles, the first of which is up above.

Phew! It's been over a week since my last post - sorry about that! Can't believe so much time has passed! In my defense, I've been pretty busy lately. I've been working, believe it or not (given that I teach and it's summer). I've been helping to write a new social studies curriculum for third grade for the district. I know, fascinating, right? For me it's been pretty interesting to see what goes into that, but I won't bore you with the details. I think it's enough to say that I've spent five of the last ten days staring at a computer screen for hours.

I bought myself some presents from Amazon. They took forever, but they are finally here. I've made myself a deal though, no new projects until I finish at least two of the projects I have going right now. So temporarily I'm just drooling over these. I've pawed through them all quite a few times already, but haven't started anything just yet.

Little feet little hands little feet little hands little baby

Kelly had the babies! She's the one with twins, who got the Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino blankies. Well, one of those blankies is technically still in my possession, but she'll get it soon. Maybe the babies are small enough to share for a little while? I'll see her soon, so the jealous baby will get his or hers soon enough (I'm not sure which baby got which blanket color combo). Carter Joseph, Grace Kelly, and mom, dad, and the dog are all doing great. Although the dog's probably looking for some extra love. Can't wait to meet the little ones!

I find sometimes it's easy to be myself; sometimes I find it's better to be somebody else

Not that I'm being somebody else these days, but just that sometimes I'm happy just being me, and other times it's hard thinking about the things I want in life and the things I don't yet have in my sights. I spent much of the weekend in New York at a wedding. After that, I went to the Jersey Shore to celebrate the fourth with my brother and his fiance. We had a blast together, but every so often it just nags at me that all of these people are just beginning their lives together, and that I'm not quite there yet. Don't worry about me though, it's not really on the forefront of my mind all of the time. I wasn't even really going to mention it, but when I listened to this song again, I couldn't skip over this part of it.

Talk about the weather

On to brighter news. Hope you're all enjoying the sunshiney weather today! Looks like we're in for a few pool/beach days this weekend and into next week.

Did you ever see a song fit so perfectly with a post like this?






Previous title: Kenny Rogers, "The Gambler"